I am taking a two credit class entitled "Understanding The Autism Spectrum." Which is interesting because Autism is a disability that is growing each year and it is not known how it is caused.
We have watched numerous videos, listened to lectures, learned strategies, have been introduced to numerous teaching materials and websites.
Take a moment to read the facts below. Especially the funding information.
Facts about Autism
Did you know ...
All this is staggering and very concerning. How do I meet the needs of a student with Autism, a student with Downs Syndrome and the Students with Specific Learning Disabilities? I will be very thankful to be able to relax with my quilting at night this winter!- Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
- Autism prevalence figures are growing
- More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
- Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
- Autism costs the nation $137 billion per year
- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
- Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
- There is no medical detection or cure for autism
- Leukemia: Affects 1 in 1,200 / Funding: $277 million
- Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 100,000 / Funding: $162 million
- Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 300 / Funding: $394 million
- Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $156 million
- Autism: Affects 1 in 88 / Funding: $79 million
- Total 2011 NIH budget: $30.5 billion
- Of this, only $169 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.6% of total NIH funding.
5 comments:
Always glad to hear workshops and conventions share worthwhile information. The challenges to be faced are easily overwhelming; do you sometimes wonder how we survive it all?
I will be in touch regarding insurance stuff; my understanding was that the district was offering double what you mentioned ($1500 in Sept & another equivalent contribution in March).
You are a wonderful lady Linda helping children with disabilities... My GS1 has Aspergers. I only wish there was a caring person like you when he went to school.
Very informative post...those of us not touched by autism yet have little knowledge of how it affects people's lives....
Thank you for helping me with my trial linky party!
A very informative post. My 28 year old son has Aspergers and school was a very difficult time for him.
And what is interesting is, there are varying degrees of autism and Down syndrome and specific learning disabilities. It is not a "cookie cutter fix" for any of the diagnoses; daughter had Asperger's, highly functioning, but socially inept; nephew has Down syndrome, highly functioning and can memorize scripture, but has friends that can't read. So it is a challenge indeed!
betty
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